“…for what use is there in capturing beauty when the world grows ever more savage?” Bob Lynn – War and Peace https://wordpress.com/reader/feeds/169964934/posts/5813470543

We frequently question the value of creative pursuits. During hard times it can seem frivolous and naive to spend our moments on less serious things. But what is serious? Is it only the mechanisms of finance, war, and power that have value? How does it benefit the world that we put off joy, beauty, and love until later? The world argues that we can spend time on such foolishness once this battle is over. This battle is the one. This battle will end all battles, until the next one.

Yet why are we in the fight? Aren’t we fighting for beauty? Love? Joy? If we don’t pursue those things today, why would we pursue them tomorrow? The active practice of love is the weapon against those who would lessen its value. Focusing on moments of beauty and sharing it with reverence reminds us that beauty remains in the midst of tragedy. Beauty is never conquered. Beauty will remain long after we have gone. Then, there is joy. How can one feel joy when the world burns? How can one feel joy as a puppy sits alone in the cold? The trick here is to feel joy despite the world’s misery.

The world is always in misery. But adding misery to it by refusing joy, love, and beauty won’t make the world less miserable. There will never be a battle that will end all battles. Every act of love, creation, and kindness are on the front lines of the longer war. Life is meant to be lived, not put off until a more appropriate time. Someone go get that puppy and find it a warm home. If there’s no one around to help we are always welcome to go get that puppy ourselves.

Should a flower not bloom because it’s raining? The flower blooms because that’s what flowers do. Should a painter not paint because the bank lost some money today? The painter should paint because that’s what painters do.

If we sacrifice all that we would fight for in order to win the battle, wouldn’t that just be losing anyway?